Device for the separating of stem parts from a tobacco mass



1934- E. R. DAHLSTROM El AL 1,945,771

DEVICE FOR THE SEPARATING OF STEM PARTS FROM A TOBACCO MASS Filed Nov.20, 1931 Patented Feb. 6, 1934 DEVICE PARTS FROM A FOR THE SEPARATING OFSTEM TOBACCO MASS Ernst Ruben Dahlstriim, Alston, and Carl Georg BertilRcthelius, Stockholm, Sweden, assignors to Aktiebclagct Formator,Stockholm, Sweden, a joint-stock company of Sweden Application November20, 1931, Serial No. 576,384,

and in Germany November 2'7, 1930 14 Claims.

The present invention refers to a device for the separating of stemparts from a tobacco mass, said mass being obtained by crushing tobaccoleaves. The quality of the tobacco mass which is adapted for theproducing of fillers is improved in a higher degree by using the deviceaccording to the invention than by using hitherto employed means for theseparation.

The tobacco mass is treated in the device according to the invention insuch a manner that it is conveyed by an air current through a channelwhich projects at least partly horizontally or upwards in the directionof said current, or the channel may be arranged in both ways. The aircurrent is then accommodated so that the stem parts, which are heavierthan the blades, fall down against the lower side of the channel,whereupon they slide down along said lower side into an opening or acollector.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing and Fig. 1 shows the device in a vertical longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 shows part of the device in a vertical front elevation and partlyvertical cross section.

Figs. 3 and 4 show details of the device in a vertical longitudinalcross section respectively.

A jigger 1 projects from the front part of the housing of the deviceinto the rear part of the housing. A fan 2 is arranged below the rearend of said jigger in such a way that its outlet opening 3 has anoblique direction upwards past the rear edge of the jigger. A separatingair channel projects with its lower part 4 in a somewhat obliquedirection upwards and backwards from an inlet opening 5 for tobacco massformed between the lower part of the frontwall 6 of the channel and therear edge of the jigger 1. Another opening 7 is formed between the rearedge of the jigger and the lower part 8 of the rear wall of the channelthrough which opening the fan communicates with the separator channel.An opening 9 is provided in the rear wall of the channel between anupper part 10 and the lower part 8 of said wall. The channel, whichconverges upwards in front of the opening 9, communicates through saidopening 9 with a container 11, which latter projects also below theopening 7. In the front wall 12 of an upper forwardly bent part 13 ofthe channel is an opening 14 provided. The channel communicates throughsaid opening by means of a channel 15 with a space above the jigger 1.The segment 13 of the channel diverges upwards in front of the opening14.

Thereafter the channel is bent in a backward direction again and therear wall 16 of the segment 1'7 is provided with an opening 18 in frontof which the channel converges. The opening 18 communicates through achannel 19 with the container 11. Finally the channel is again bent 0forwardly and the front wall 20 of the segment 21 is provided with anopening 22 in front of which the channel diverges.

The opening 22 communicates through a channel 23 with a space above thejigger and it is (as 5 Well as if desired also the channel 15) providedwith a lid 24 pivoted at 25. Moreover an opening 26 is provided in aside wall of said channel. Thus, if desired, the upper part of thechannel can by means of swinging the lid 24 toa position as shown inFig. 2 be brought out of communication with the space above the jiggerand into communication with another space. Then the bottom of thechannel mentioned forms an oblique surface.

The segment 21 communicates through a final outlet 27 with the upperpart of a drum 28 arranged behind the separated channel. Below thelower, open end of the drum 28 is arranged a container 29. A lattice orstrainer 30 is provided in the rear wall of the drum.

The inclination of the different segments of the separating channelalter in such a way that the segment 21 runs steeper than the segment17, which runs steeper than the segment 13, which latter runs steeperthan the segment 4. Moreover the cross areas in front of the differentopenings are chosen in such a way, that the cross area at the upperdiverging segment 21 is less than that at the lower diverging segment13. The same is valid as to the converging part 17 in relation to theconverging part 4 of the channel.

In order that the air currents may not form any whirls in the separatingchannel the latter is provided with screens which convey the air in adesired direction. Such a screen is shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and indicatedby 50.

The openings of the separating channel are provided with devices forregulating the separating efficiency. In the Figures 3 and 4 is shownsuch a device arranged e. g. at the opening 18.

The regulating device consists of a lid 31 pivoted on a shaft 32. Thelid as well as the opening has about the same width as the channel 17.The lid at its lower end is bent round the shaft 32 and lined to thesame by means of a set screw 33. On an end 34 projecting out of the sidewall 35 of the channel 17 an arm 36 is fixed. This arm is provided witha head 3'7 at its upper end, and said head contains a curved notch 38. Aset screw 39 is screwed into a plate 40 attached to the side wall 35,and said plate is provided with three oblong notches 41, through whichproject bolts 42, fixed to the side wall 35, and provided with nuts 43on their outer threaded ends. The two side walls of the channel 17 areprovided with oblong holes 44, through which the shaft 32 penetrates.Said holes are covered by the plate 40, and a ring 45 respectively,which latter as well as the plate 40 fits closely to the shaft 32.

The suction tube 46 of the fan 2 is provided with a throttle valve 47,and it is driven from a motor or the like by a belt 48: running over astep pulley 49.

The separation of the stem parts from the tobacco mass is executed inthe following manner.

The tobacco mass consisting of crushed blades and stems is delivered tothe jigger 1 from the outlet opening of a breaker or the like. Thejigger is imparted reciprocating movements (as shown by the arrows). Thetobacco mass is then conveyed against the rear end of the jigger, andwhen it falls down therefrom through the opening 5 it is encountered byan air current through the opening '7 from the fan 2 and thrown up:-wardly through the separator channel. The heaviest stem parts, however,cannot be thrown upwardly but slide immediately down along the rear wall8 through the opening 7 into the container 11.

The main part of the remaining stem parts is separated from the mass atthe first curve of the channel counted in the direction of the aircurrent and the stem parts separated out slide down along the rear wall10 through the opening 9 into the container 11. As the cross area of thesegment 4 decreases in the direction of the air current the rapidity ofthe latter increases and thus almost entirely stem parts leave throughthe opening 9, as they are heavier than the blades.

The tobacco mass with possibly still therein remaining stem parts thrownfurther upwardly through the segment 13, and as the cross area of thissegment increases, the rapidity of the air current decreases, whereby aswell stem parts as parts of blades leave through the opening 14, afterhaving slided down along the wall 12, and descend through the channel 15back to the jigger 1. These stem parts and blades are thus subjected totreatment in the separator channel at least once more. In other words,stem parts which have not been separated out in the channel segment 4are automatically conveyed back to the inlet opening 5.

The remaining tobacco mass is conveyed by the air current furtherupwardly through the separating channel, and thrown against the wall 16,so that still remaining stem parts may slide back down along said wallinto the opening 18 and fur ther descend through the channel 19 into thecontainer 11. As the cross area of the segment 1'7 decreases, therapidity of the air current increases, and entirely or at least almostentirely stem parts leave through the opening 18.

Thereafter the remaining tobacco mass ascends furtherupwardly throughthe channel segment 21, where it is thrown against the front wall 20. Asthe cross area of this segment increases upwardly in front of theopening 22, the rapidity of the air current decreases, and therefore aswell blade parts as eventually still in the massremaining stem partsSlide down along the wall 20 and further through the opening 22 and thechannel 23 back to the jigger 1, whereafter it is subected to theseparating operation again.

According to the fact that the cross areas of the diverging respectivelyconverging segments diminish in relation to each other counted in thedirection upwards the loss of air caused by leakage, etc., iscounteracted. Moreover, as losses of air on account of leakage cannot beavoided, the force of the current is less in the upper part of thechannel than in the lower part. Therefore the resistance to the currentis continuously decreased by drawing the separator channel more steep atits upper part than at its lower part.

If it is proved that the mass which falls down through the channels 15and 23 consists almost entirely of stem parts, said channels may be shutby a lid 24 such as shown in the channel 23 in the drawing and theopening 26 be brought into communication with the upper part of saidchannels. Then the stem parts slide down on the oblique surface of thelid and are thus conveyed out of the channel.

The tobacco mass freed from stem parts passes through the final outlet27 of the separator channel into the upper part of the drum 28 and fallsdown through said drum into the rear container 29. The air leaves thedrum through the strainer 30.

By means of the screens 50 it is possible to attain even air currents.If e. g. on account of uneven pressure in the channel tobacco mass tendsto accumulate at certain places, air currents are directed by means ofthe screens to such places and clogging of the channel is avoided.

By means of the regulation devices provided at the outlet openings, itis possible to adjust the areas of said openings as desired. Thus, at aconstant air-current through the separator channel, the output of stemparts which leave through the openings is diminished or increased bydiminishing or increasing the areas of the openings. The best separatingeificiency is then obtained at a certain position of the lids'3l. If thearea then is increased or decreased, said eificiency is impaired. It isthen possible to meet alteration of the capacity of the fan, as well asalterations in the composition of the tobacco mass, i. e. if itscontents of stem parts varies. It is of very great importance to obtainsuch an adjustment of the separating efficiency of the device because asingle type of apparatus can be manufactured, adapted for severaldifferent kinds of tobacco and adjusted after testing the apparatus tothe best separating efficiency for each special kind of tobacco.

The adjustment of the openings is attained by swinging the lid 31 into adesired position after the screw 39 has been loosened, whereupon thescrew is fastened again so that the arm 36 is fixed .to the plate 40 ina certain angular position. The position of the lid 31 is adjusted atthe same time because it is firmly connected to the arm 36 through therotatable shaft 32. It is also possible to change the vertical positionof the lid in relation to the opening, and this is attained by looseningthe nuts 43, whereupon the plate 40 may be conveyed upwardly ordownwardly together with lid 31 to a desired position, whereafter it isfixed again to the side wall 35 by fastening the nuts 43.

The separating eificiency may also be regulated by changing the numberof revolutions of the fan or by adjusting the throttle valve 47. Theregulatingof the velocity of the fan is obtained the shaft 32 and theInstead of providing a fan at the inletopening of the separator channel,it is often more convenient to connect the suction side of a fan for thecirculation of the air to the final outlet of the separating channel.Thereby is also the advantage obtained that even the smallest particlesof the tobacco mass are collected, as the aircirculation is practicallyclosed. Besides, the

advantage is obtained that the circulating air is saturated withmoisture and aroma, and the quality of the tobacco is thereby improved.

The channel may also if desired be provided with more curves and withmore than two channels for returning tobacco mass together with stemparts. If desired, the channel may have the same direction from theinlet opening to the final outlet opening in the drum, whereat thechannel suitably projects leaning over the inlet opening. The channelmay also be composed by horizontal as well as vertical or inclinedsegments, and the outlet openings may be replaced by collectors in theform of cavities or the like which are eventually provided with boxes orthe like adapted to slide or to be tilted.

The lids 31 for regulating the separating efliciency may also beslidably arranged on the injner side of the inclined separator channelpreferably on the inclined surface above the outlet opening.

What we claim is:-

1. A device for separating stem parts from a mass consisting of crushedtobacco leaves having a feeding device and an air-channel provided witha supply port for tobacco mass to be treated, a discharge port fortobacco mass freed from stem parts, and a return-outlet located between1 said supply port and said discharge port, said return-outletcommunicating with the supply port.

2. A device for separating stem parts from a mass consisting of crushedtobacco leaves having a feeding device and an air-channel provided witha supply port for tobacco mass to be treated, a discharge port fortobacco mass freed from stem parts, and return-outlets located betweensaid supply port and said discharge port, said return-outletscommunicating with the supply port.

3. A device for separating stem parts from a mass consisting of crushedtobacco leaves having a feeding device and an air-channel provided witha supply port for tobacco mass to be treated, a discharge port fortobacco mass freed from stem parts, a return-outlet located between saidsupply port and said discharge port and communicating with the supplyport, and an escape 5 outlet for stem parts located between saidreturnoutlet and said supply port.

4. A device for separating stem parts from a mass consisting of crushedtobacco leaves having a feeding device and an air-channel provided iwith a supply port for tobacco mass to be treated,

a discharge port for tobacco mass freed from stem parts, a return-outletlocated between said supply port and said discharge port, andcommunicating with the supply port, and other out- ;lets located betweensaid return-outlet and said supply port, part of them communicating withthe pp P 5. In a device for separating stem parts from a mass consistingof crushed tobacco leaves having a feeding device, a substantiallyinclined 8Q air-channel provided with a supply port for tobacco mass tobe treated, a discharge port for tobacco mass freed from stem parts, andoutlets located between said supply port and said discharge port, theuppermost of said outlets communicating with the supply port.

6 A device for separating stem parts from a mass consisting of crushedtobacco leaves having a feeding device and'a substantially inclinedair--v channel provided with a supply port for tobacco mass to betreated, a discharge port for tobacco mass freed from stem parts, and areturn outlet located in the lower wall of an upwardly inclined part ofsaid channel between said supply port and said discharge port, saidreturn-outlet communicating with the supply port.

7. A device for separating stem parts from a mass consisting of crushedtobacco leaves having a feeding device and a substantially inclinedairchannel provided with a supply port for tobacco 106 mass to betreated, a discharge port for tobacco mass freed from stem parts, andreturn outlets located each in the lower wall of an upwardly inclinedpart of said channel between said supply port and said discharge port,said return-outlets communicating with the supply port.

8. A device for separating stem parts from a mass consisting of crushedtobacco leaves having a feeding device and a substantially verticalzigzag air-channel provided with a supply port for lid tobacco mass tobe treated, a discharge port for tobacco mass freed from stem parts andreturnoutlets located each in the lower wall of a segment of saidchannel between said supply port and said discharge port, saidreturn-outlets communicating with the supply port.

9. A device for separating stem parts from a mass consisting of crushedtobacco leaves having a feeding device and an air-channel provided witha supply port for tobacco mass to be treated, a discharge port fortobacco mass freed from stem parts and a return-outlet located betweensaid supply port and said discharge port at an extension of saidair-channel and communicating with the sup ly port.

10. A device for separating stem parts from a mass consisting of crushedtobacco leaves having a feeding device, and an air-channel provided witha supply port for tobacco mass freed from stem parts and with areturn-outlet located between said supply port and said discharge port,and a. return channel connecting said return outlet with the supplyport.

11. A device for separating stem parts from a mass consisting of crushedtobacco leaves having a feeding device and a substantially inclinedair-channel provided with a supply port for tobacco mass to be treated,a discharge port for tobacco mass freed from stem parts andreturnoutlets located between said supply port and said 1459 dischargeport, and communicating with the supply port, said channel having asharper incline at a return-outlet at a higher level than at the nearestunderlying return-outlet.

12. A device for separating stem parts from a mass consisting of crushedtobacco leaves having a feeding device and a substantially inclinedair-channel provided with a supply port for tobacco mass to be treated,a discharge port for tobacco mass freed from stem parts andreturnoutlets located between said supply port and said discharge port,and communicating with the supply port, said channel having a smallercrosssectional area at a return-outlet at a higher level than at thenext underlying return-outlet.

13. A device for separating stem parts from a mass consisting of crushedtobacco leaves having a feeding device, and an air-channel provided witha supply port for tobacco mass to be treated, a discharge port fortobacco mass freed from stem parts and a return-outlet located betweensaid supplyport and said discharge port, and communicating with thesupply port, a regulating means being provided in said return-outlet andmeans for actuating said regulating means.

ERNST RUBEN DAHLSTRM. CARL GEORG BERTIL ROTHELIUS.

